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PASAT — add the numbers as they're spoken, before the next one lands

The Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test, adapted for daily training. Free, in your browser, no signup to start.

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See how it works

5→3→8

3 + 8 = 11

Numbers are spoken aloud, not shown as text — you track them by ear, then add up the last few.

How it works

A number is spoken

Each digit from 1 to 9 is read aloud, one at a time, at a steady pace — nothing is shown on screen.

Add up the recent ones

Once enough numbers have played, type the sum of the last several numbers — how many depends on your level.

Difficulty adapts

Keep pace accurately and the level rises, so you're tracking and summing more numbers at once; slip up and it eases back down.

One task, one number to track — how far can you push it?

Level 2

Add the last 2 numbers spoken — the classic PASAT pace.

Level 4

Add the last 4 numbers spoken — you're now holding four running values in mind at once.

Leveling up doesn't just speed things up — it makes you track and sum more numbers simultaneously.

Part of the BrainScale training suite, trained by people in 120+ countries since 2011.

What is PASAT training?

PASAT stands for the Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test: single-digit numbers are read aloud at a steady pace, and after enough of them have played you add up the most recent few — entirely in your head, working from sound rather than text. It's a demanding combination of mental arithmetic, working memory and sustained attention under real time pressure.

How the exercise works

Digits from 1–9 are spoken aloud one at a time — nothing is displayed on screen, so you track them by ear
Once enough numbers have played, type the sum of the last N numbers, where N is your current level
Each number arrives on a fixed pace, so there's no pausing to think between them
Clear enough rounds accurately and the level rises — meaning you now keep one more number in mind and add it in
Miss enough rounds and the level eases back down, keeping the exercise demanding but doable

Why train with PASAT?

Combines arithmetic, working memory and processing speed in a single task — you can't just be fast, you have to keep the running set straight
The auditory format is closer to the original PASAT design used in processing-speed research, rather than a simplified on-screen variant
Forces continuous updating of what's in working memory, since older numbers drop out of the sum as new ones arrive
Short sessions are demanding enough that a few rounds is a genuine workout

Short, frequent sessions beat occasional long ones — consistency is what moves your level.

Who it's for

Anyone who wants to test mental arithmetic under real time pressure
People curious about the classic PASAT task used in cognitive and processing-speed research
Auditory learners who prefer a sound-based drill over an on-screen one
Anyone building a daily training habit — pair it with streaks

Frequently asked questions

What is PASAT?

PASAT stands for the Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test. Single-digit numbers are spoken aloud, one at a time, at a steady pace. Once enough numbers have played, you add up the most recent several and type in the sum — entirely from what you heard, not from anything shown on screen.

Is PASAT free to play?

Yes. PASAT is free to play with no signup required to start. Creating a free account adds progress tracking and streaks; a premium plan removes free-tier session limits.

Why are the numbers spoken instead of shown on screen?

That's true to the original design — PASAT stands for Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test, and the auditory presentation is what makes it demanding. You can't glance back at a number; you have to hold it in working memory the moment it's spoken.

How does the difficulty level adapt?

Your level sets how many of the most recent numbers you need to add together. Answer accurately across enough rounds and the level rises, so you're tracking and summing one more number at a time; fall below the accuracy threshold and the level eases back down.

Is this the same PASAT used in research and clinical settings?

BrainScale's PASAT uses the same paced, auditory, serial-addition format researchers use to study processing speed and working memory. It's built here as a training and self-testing exercise, not a diagnostic tool.

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